Moving to Poland from Wisconsin

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Wisconsin to Poland? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Wisconsin to Poland, you would find that Poland is 25.1% cheaper than Wisconsin. A $75,000 salary in Wisconsin would need to be roughly PLN224,775 in Poland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Polish.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Wisconsin and Poland.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 PLN224,775

To maintain the same standard of living in Poland

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 23.9% less

Groceries

pay 37.6% less

Transportation

pay 7.0% more

Housing

pay 25.7% less

Childcare

pay 77.0% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 33.3% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 3.71 PLN (June 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

Get free moving quotes to Poland

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Wisconsin to Poland.

Living there in 2020
18,035 ↑ 34% vs 2015

people born in United States live in Poland · UN DESA

Who's moving to Poland?

Top countries of origin for Poland's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Poland compared to Wisconsin.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

WI
37.8%
PL
23.1%

Poland performs significantly better than Wisconsin across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

WI
89.5%
PL
85.0%

Wisconsin performs better than Poland across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

WI
3.0%
PL
2.9%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

WI
$59,333
PL
$44,100

Wisconsin generally does better on employment & economy, though Poland leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

WI
77.7 yrs
PL
78.8 yrs

Poland performs significantly better than Wisconsin across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Madison Rain: 34.5 in/yr (876 mm)
56° / 37°F

Avg. annual high / low

Warsaw Rain: 20.9 in/yr (532 mm)
55° / 40°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Madison Warsaw
Jan–Mar 33°/17°F (1°/-8°C) 38°/26°F (3°/-3°C)
Apr–Jun 68°/46°F (20°/8°C) 66°/46°F (19°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 78°/57°F (25°/14°C) 72°/53°F (22°/12°C)
Oct–Dec 44°/28°F (7°/-2°C) 44°/33°F (7°/1°C)
View all months
Month Madison Warsaw
Jan 26°/11°F (-3.1°/-11.6°C) 33°/24°F (0.7°/-4.4°C)
Feb 31°/15°F (-0.5°/-9.4°C) 36°/25°F (2.1°/-3.9°C)
Mar 43°/25°F (6.2°/-4.0°C) 44°/30°F (6.9°/-0.9°C)
Apr 57°/36°F (14.1°/2.1°C) 57°/38°F (13.9°/3.6°C)
May 68°/46°F (20.2°/7.8°C) 68°/47°F (19.8°/8.6°C)
Jun 78°/56°F (25.5°/13.4°C) 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C)
Jul 82°/61°F (27.6°/16.1°C) 76°/57°F (24.6°/13.7°C)
Aug 79°/59°F (26.3°/15.0°C) 75°/55°F (23.9°/13.0°C)
Sep 72°/50°F (22.1°/10.1°C) 65°/48°F (18.4°/9.0°C)
Oct 59°/39°F (14.9°/3.8°C) 55°/40°F (12.8°/4.7°C)
Nov 44°/28°F (6.7°/-2.1°C) 43°/33°F (5.9°/0.5°C)
Dec 30°/16°F (-1.0°/-8.9°C) 35°/26°F (1.6°/-3.1°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Institute of Meteorology and Water Management Institute of Meteorology and Water Management

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Poland. To live, work, or study long-term in Poland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Poland's immigration authority.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Poland

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Poland without a visa.
Poland passport

Poland passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Poland passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Poland than Wisconsin?

On average Poland is about 19% less expensive than Wisconsin, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Poland?

Budget about PLN56,194 for 3 months in Poland (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Poland?

From major Poland cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Wisconsin and Poland are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Poland compared to Wisconsin?

Poland performs significantly better than Wisconsin across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Poland compared to Wisconsin?

The average high temperature in Warsaw is 55°F, compared to 56°F in Madison. Warsaw receives around 20.9 in of rainfall per year, while Madison gets 34.5 in.

What language do they speak in Poland?

The official language in Poland is Polish. In Wisconsin, the official language is English.

Share this

At a Glance

PL
Population 5,686,986 38,093,101
Currency United States Dollar ($) Polish Zloty (PLN)
Languages English Polish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +48
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 112